7 preference points for WY antelope

[scabtrapper]

Just a newbie to the forum but have been studying the MRS and thought I'd ask on this forum.

I have 7 preference points for NR in WY for antelope. Any unit suggestions or info would be greatly appreciated.

Looking for a unit with good access and chance at nice (70-80") buck.

Thanks

 

[Ricochet]

I like reading these antelope threads. I just have 2 points and I'm going to burn them this year. But I like hearing everybodies different opinions on the subject. I would start over and interduce your self a little bit and you will get a lot of help from these guys. I look forward to seeing some picks. Good luck

 

[tomcat]

I have 6 points, but if I had 7 I would apply in one of the Red Desert Units, 57, 58, 60, 61. The only thing I don't know is how the winter has been, and whether there has been a winter kill. Normally these are good units for a big buck, with plenty of public land.

 

[scabtrapper]

Thanks Ricochet. I should've burned my points too but just haven't had the time until this year. I have hunted in WY units 18 and 72 for doe antelope over the last couple of years mainly doing a little scouting. Saw a few nice bucks in 18 but 72 wasn't that good IMO. Looking at units 60 or 61 but really haven't spent much time down in that area of WY. Lots of good info on the site and have enjoyed reading the antelope threads also.

 

[scabtrapper]

I have 6 points, but if I had 7 I would apply in one of the Red Desert Units, 57, 58, 60, 61. The only thing I don't know is how the winter has been, and whether there has been a winter kill. Normally these are good units for a big buck, with plenty of public land.

Thanks Tomcat. I've heard from folks near Alcova and Muddy Gap that winter has been cold, snowy, and windy. All summer folks talked about how dry it was further south in those units. 60 and 61 are on my list just haven't talked to anyone that has hunted those units.

 

[MWScott72]

If all you want is a "70-80s" buck then you just need to get out and hunt! Any blue chip and many greens will easily get you in the mid-70s range without too much effort. To get something in the 80s you'll need to put in more time and maybe get alittle lucky. Get on the G&F's website and see which of the blues and greens you can pull with 7 points (which will be just about all of them), pick one, and then get out and hunt. No sense continuing to build points. Shoot, if you just like having a pile of points, put in for 60 or 61 and then an easy to draw 2nd choice. You'll keep your points if you draw the 2nd choice tag, and can probably still kill a 70s buck to boot.

 

[NE69]

If I had 7 points I would try to draw a second choice unit this year to hunt and plan on time to scout in the unit of my choice for next year. You would gain a lot of knowledge and experience from this year and be set up for an 80" or better next year. Just my 2 cents. 7 points aren't that easy to accumulate so make the most of them.

 

[Topgun 30-06]

I would certainly not go on a hunt with 7PPs looking for a buck that's only in the low 70s. Every unit in the state that has antelope has that potential with no problem. To be one PP from max I'd be looking at an 80"+ buck and spending a good week or more finding and shooting him or there is no point in building that many PPs. I don't have any PPs, but if you want to put me in as a party with you for an average of 3.5 PPs I'll provide a newish 19' trailer for one person along with myself and take you where you'll kill an upper 70s buck or better if you have a week to spend with me out there. That is a serious statement and the guy from Idaho that took me up on it two years ago with his 5 PPs took a 78" buck the second morning because he only had 3 days to hunt. My buddy took one a little smaller opening day and mine was right at 80" taken on the 4th morning and all were on public land with no other hunters in the area! The season in the unit we would hunt is the entire month of October and I would go out and scout early and the hunt would be the first week of October if you wanted to do it. We could then do the hunt together or I could show you where to hunt on your own if that is your desire. A 3.5 average is not a shoein for the tag, but would be in the running for a tag in the regular draw. PS: I've hunted out there where I'm talking about almost every year since 1994 for deer, elk, or antelope and know it like the back of my hand..

 

[HuskyMusky]

If I had 7pts I would strongly be looking for an 80"+ antelope... ie. one of the better/best WY units.

They are very tough to judge IMO though.

You can shoot a 75-80" goat with 2 or 3pts in WY IMO.

 

[NE69]

TopGun, I would take you up on that in a heartbeat but I only have 2 pp. Have 6 for deer tho. Deals like that aren't everyday.

 

[Musket Man]

I think it would be pretty hard to have a bad antelope hunt in any unit that takes 6-7 points to draw.

 

[Topgun 30-06]

I think it would be pretty hard to have a bad antelope hunt in any unit that takes 6-7 points to draw.

***It's actually pretty hard to have a bad hunt in a 3-4PP unit if you know what you're doing MM!!!

 

[Musket Man]

I think most units that take any points at all would be decent. The unit I hunt when I draw it takes around 3. The OP has 7 points so I figured he would be looking at units that took 6-7 points last year, or thats what I would be looking for if I had 7 points anyways. lol

 

[AT Hiker]

***It's actually pretty hard to have a bad hunt in a 3-4PP unit if you know what you're doing MM!!!

I am thinking more along those lines myself. Originally my wife was going to build points until she could hunt one of those "premo" units. She will have 3 after this year but the more I think about it i believe she just might draw a tag in a good access, low pressure unit. If she kills a mid 70's antelope then she will be tickled to death and probably never antelope hunt again, and I think this can be done in those 3-4 point units.

I personally seen a few good antelope around Cody 2 years ago, prob pushing 80". A buddy of mine went last fall and had a very hard time finding anything much over 70", either he cant see very well or the quality dropped.

 

[Musket Man]

I think horn growth has been below average with the drought. Hopefully this year is better. There are some very good hunts you can draw with 3-4 points.

 

[Topgun 30-06]

I think horn growth has been below average with the drought. Hopefully this year is better. There are some very good hunts you can draw with 3-4 points.

***That's exactly why I made the proposition to the OP. It not only helps him get a good one, but also allows me to get a tag that I can't draw for several years. If he comes back and reads this, I'd even pony up $100 to cover the PPs he would be giving me to do the hunt. It doesn't get much better than that. After 20 years of hunting a unit I know what it will produce and where to look for them. I don't bet, but if I did I would bet him that I could get him on at least one 80" buck in less than a week where I hunt. I've had 3 tags over the last ten years there and all three bucks scored at least 75" and were taken in less than 4 days of hunting. That's just ones I've taken and several my buddy has shot have been comparable even though he doesn't care how big a buck is as long as he can shoot one within a few days so he can concentrate on elk and deer.

 

[Browntailguy]

We saw over 200 animals a day just east of Riverton. Lots of nice animals and tons of public access. We had 5 points.

 

[Topgun 30-06]

We saw over 200 animals a day just east of Riverton. Lots of nice animals and tons of public access. We had 5 points.

***The units east of Shoshoni and Riverton are good ones for anyone with a few PPs looking for a good hunt and plenty of room to roam!

 

[Musket Man]

I hope antelope recover some in the next couple years. My unit has gotten harder to draw with the tag cuts.

 

[Boilermaker]

I used all my points 2 years ago in unit 64. I hoped for the same things you mentioned, 70-80' and good access. 64 is the perfect unit for that. I hunted for 4 days and looked over nearly 300 bucks, mostly average, none over 80 (one was close). Pressure was non existent and the country was beautiful. I would be happy to offer further info